I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cyprus Interaction Lab, Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), and a Greek language instructor at the Language Centre of CUT. I hold a BA in Classical Studies from the University of Cyprus, an MA in Pedagogical Sciences from the same University and a PhD from the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts of the Cyprus University of Technology. In my PhD dissertation I focused on the potential of social technologies as instructional tools that support social construction of an artifact by a group of learners. My work is situated at the intersection of social computing, language learning, and constructionism.

[Research Projects’ Involvement] I am the principal investigator of the WomenPower project (2014-2015), supported by Mahallae (funded by UNDP-ACT), aiming at the design, development, and evaluation of a platform to connect women mentors and mentees in the fields of academia, business, healthcare and technology. I am also involved in the Network for Social Computing Research (NOTRE) project, funded under Horizon 2020 Twinning programme (2016-1019). NOTRE project aims to develop a network that will strengthen and enhance the research and innovation potential and capability of the newly established Social Computing Research Centre (SCRC) at CUT for stimulating scientific excellence and innovation capacity in the area of Social Computing. Previously, I worked as a researcher (2011-2014) on LUCIDE, a project supported by European Commission, designed to develop ideas about how to manage multilingual citizen communities across the EU and beyond. You can view some of my work in the projects’ section.

[Research Interests] My general research interests are on Technology-Enhanced Learning with emphasis on social technologies for language learning. More specifically my research interests are: - Computer-Assisted Language Learning - Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning- Social technologies for supporting collaboration in online communities- Cultural ddifferencesin the use of online social communities- Technology for social inclusion- Intercultural education

[Social Computing and Communities] I am fascinated by the social dimensions of computing and specifically by the use of social technologies as instructional tools. This aspect involves exploring how groups of learners interact with their peers and with others within social technologies in their effort to construct a meaningful artifact.

[Constructionism] Constructionist theories of learning are a central influence in my research and teaching activities. I believe that technology enables the design of constructionist learning environments –spaces that support learning through designing, making and connecting and allow students make maximum use of their own cognitive potential. I believe that learning can happen most effectively when people are collaboratively active in making meaningful objects in the real world or in the world of the computer. Constructionism cuts through my research work, in using social technologies as social constructionist tools, and in my teaching. In my classroom, I endeavour in engaging students in challenging and authentic situations in which theory and practice are brought together with an aim of constructing a meaningful artifact.